Hamilton County, Indiana

Hamilton County, Indiana

Hamilton County courthouse in Noblesville, Indiana

Seal
Map of Indiana highlighting Hamilton County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1823
Named for Alexander Hamilton
Seat Noblesville
Largest city Carmel
Area
 • Total 402.44 sq mi (1,042 km2)
 • Land 394.27 sq mi (1,021 km2)
 • Water 8.17 sq mi (21 km2), 2.03%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 302,623
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov

Footnotes:  

  • Indiana county number 29
  • Fastest-growing county in the state
    •
  • Most affluent county in the state

Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 274,569.[1] The county seat is Noblesville.

Hamilton County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area

Hamilton County’s roots are in agriculture. However, after World War II, Indianapolis grew north and towns in the southern part of the county developed as suburbs. Many farm fields have been replaced by both residential and commercial development. The northern portion of the county remains largely agricultural. Today, the county is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. According to 2007 estimates by the U.S. Census, the county’s population increased from an estimated 182,740 in 2000 to 261,661 in 2007, making it the fastest-growing county in Indiana out of 92. Recently, Hamilton County surpassed St. Joseph County in population, making it the fourth most populous in the state.[2]

In 2010, Hamilton County was home to three of the state’s 20 largest cities and towns: Carmel (8th), Fishers (9th), and Noblesville (14th).

Geist and Morse reservoirs are two man-made lakes in Hamilton County that offer residents and visitors recreational opportunities such as boating, fishing, and waterfront living.

In June 2008, Hamilton County was named America’s Best Place to Raise a Family by Forbes.com[3] due to its strong economy, affordable living, top-ranked schools, and close proximity to Indianapolis. The city of Carmel in southwestern Hamilton County was designated CNN Money's top place to live in 2013.[4]

History

The land containing Hamilton County was brought into the possession of the United States by the Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818. William Conner was the first white settler in the county. In the summer of 1822, after realizing there were enough settlers in the area, Conner and other settlers applied to the Indiana Legislature for a charter authorizing them to become a separate and independent county under Indiana law. The application was presented to the Legislature at the 1822-23 session and the act was passed and approved by the governor on January 8, 1823. The act took effect on the first Monday in April (April 7), 1823. The County Commissioners first met on May 5, 1823, at the house of William Conner. Conner’s house would also serve as the County Circuit Court. The county was named after Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury.[5][6][7]

Climate and weather

Noblesville, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[8]

In recent years, average temperatures in Noblesville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.42 inches (61 mm) in January to 4.86 inches (123 mm) in May. Hamilton County's climate thus falls within the Köppen climate classification system as a humid continental temperate climate, with pleasant spring and fall seasons surrounded by harsh cold and humid heat in the winter and summer, respectively.[8]

Government

The county executive body is filled by the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners representing the three commissioner districts.

District 1 consists of Carmel and Clay Township. District 2 consists of Fishers, Noblesville, Delaware Township, and Noblesville Township. District 3 consists of Adams Township, Fall Creek Township, Jackson Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, White River Township, Arcadia, Atlanta, Cicero, Sheridan and Westfield.

The current County Commissioners are:

The county's finances are managed by the County Council, which consists of seven members, four elected by district and three elected at-large.

District 1 consists of parts of Clay Township (45 precincts). District 2 consists of Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne Townships. District 3 consists of Noblesville, Jackson and White River Townships. District 4 consists of parts of Clay Township (17 precincts), Adams and Washington Townships.

The current members of the County Council are:

Hamilton County is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district; Indiana Senate districts 20, 21, 28, 29 and 30;[9] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 29, 32, 35, 36, 38, 39, 86, 87 and 88.[10]

Politics

Hamilton County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Republican Democratic
2012 66.2% 90,747 32.0% 43,796
2008 60.6% 78,401 38.5% 49,704
2004 74.2% 77,887 25.2% 26,388
2000 74.3% 56,372 23.7% 18,002
1996 69.4% 42,792 23.0% 14,153
1992 62.5% 34,622 18.4% 10,215
1988 80.4% 36,654 19.4% 8,853
1984 82.3% 30,254 17.3% 6,364
1980 74.2% 26,218 19.9% 7,036
1976 72.9% 21,828 26.2% 7,857
1972 82.7% 20,247 17.0% 4,151
1968 67.6% 14,250 21.8% 4,586
1964 61.3% 12,060 38.4% 7,553
1960 70.6% 13,409 29.0% 5,511

The county is located in Indiana's 5th congressional district, which is represented by Susan Brooks.

Hamilton County has been won by every Republican presidential candidate since Charles Evans Hughes in 1916. In 1912, Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson had carried the county with a 3.06% majority over Republican opponent William Taft.[11] The county's Republican bent has only increased as Indianapolis' suburbs have spilled into the district, and it has become a classic bastion of suburban conservatism.

Although Barack Obama got only 38.45% of Hamilton County's vote during the 2008 election, it is the best showing for a Democratic presidential candidate in this county since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 (who himself also lost the county).[11]

Hamilton County's loyalty to the Republican Party is not limited to presidential elections. The county regularly rejects Democrats in gubernatorial and senatorial races, and is typically one of the Republicans' strongest counties at the state level. One of the few times in recent memory that Hamilton County has supported a Democrat for governor or Senate was in 1992, when Evan Bayh narrowly carried it with 50.48 percent of the vote in his successful reelection bid. However, Bayh lost Hamilton County in both of his bids for Senate, even as he won handily statewide.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 402.44 square miles (1,042.3 km2), of which 394.27 square miles (1,021.2 km2) (or 97.97%) is land and 8.17 square miles (21.2 km2) (or 2.03%) is water.[12]

Major highways

Airport

Adjacent counties

Cities and towns

Townships

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
189026,123—
190029,91414.5%
191027,026−9.7%
192024,222−10.4%
193023,444−3.2%
194024,6145.0%
195028,49115.8%
196040,13240.9%
197054,53235.9%
198082,02750.4%
1990108,93632.8%
2000182,74067.7%
2010274,56950.3%
Est. 2014302,623[13]10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1]
Age and gender distribution in Hamilton County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 274,569 people, 99,835 households, and 74,755 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was 696.4 inhabitants per square mile (268.9/km2). There were 106,772 housing units at an average density of 270.8 per square mile (104.6/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% white, 4.8% Asian, 3.5% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 29.0% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 13.0% were English, and 7.7% were American.[19]

Of the 99,835 households, 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.1% were non-families, and 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19. The median age was 35.6 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $95,376. Males had a median income of $67,221 versus $44,273 for females. The per capita income for the county was $38,500. About 3.6% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Hamilton County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  2. ↑ "Hamilton takes top spot in county headcount". The Indianapolis Star (Gannett Company). 2008-03-21. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  3. ↑ "In Depth: America's Best Places To Raise A Family - Forbes.com". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23.
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20150203141450/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2012/top100/. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Hamilton County stats". Indiana.edu. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  6. ↑ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. p. 560.
  7. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 147.
  8. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Noblesville, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  9. ↑ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  10. ↑ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  11. 1 2 David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Indiana by election) Results prior to 1960 available through subscription only
  12. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  19. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  20. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.

External links

 Clinton County Tipton County
Boone County Madison County
   Hamilton County, Indiana  
Marion County Hancock County

Coordinates: 40°04′N 86°03′W / 40.07°N 86.05°W / 40.07; -86.05

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